Assembly fitting with bayonet coupling

ABSTRACT

An assembly fitting has a first fitting part ( 1 ), which is provided for attachment to a first component, and a second fitting part ( 10 ), which is provided for attachment to a second component. The first fitting part ( 1 ) and the second fitting part ( 10 ) can be connected to one another by means of a bayonet coupling, whereby a sleeve part ( 2 ) of the bayonet coupling is formed in the first fitting part ( 1 ) and an insertion part ( 11 ) of the bayonet coupling is formed in the second fitting part ( 10 ). The insertion part ( 11 ) has a number of radial tongues ( 12 ). The sleeve part ( 2 ) has an inner sleeve opening ( 4 ) and tongue openings ( 5 ) radially formed thereon, corresponding to the number of tongues ( 12 ). Each radial tongue ( 12 ) has at least one lug ( 13 ), whose outer radial distance from a center of the insertion part ( 14 ) essentially lies on a circle and the shape of the inner sleeve opening ( 4 ) corresponds essentially at least in part to this circle. The advantage consists in a well centered and fixed connection that is fixed in three axes between the first fitting part ( 1 ) and the second fitting part ( 10 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a assembly fitting with a bayonet coupling according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as its particular use in the area of attachment of furniture parts according to claim 7.

[0002] There are many areas of use, in which different components must be able to be assembled to an unit related to a need with reference to different momentary specifications in the fastest possible manner and possibly without the use of tools.

[0003] One of these areas of use, for example, is the furniture of restaurants and conference rooms, etc., in which, many times, in a short amount of time, furniture must be assembled according to a very often differing number of guests. Often, then, in a short amount of time, a number of further tables must be assembled, which often are stored in a disassembled state for space-saving reasons. Fast assembly systems, such as bayonet connection for attachment of furniture parts and in particular, also table legs, basically are already known. Popular and, in particular, constructively simple solutions often have the disadvantage, however, that they are only minimally exact and also minimally stable.

[0004] From U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,648, an assembly fitting with a bayonet coupling for the mounting of table legs to table tops is known. This assembly fitting comprises a leg mounting part, which is provided for attachment to a table leg, as well as a table top mounting, which is provided for attachment to a table top. The leg mounting part and the table top mounting can be connected to one another with the assistance of a bayonet coupling. Thus, on the table top mounting, a sleeve part is formed and on the leg mounting part, an insertion part is formed.

[0005] The insertion part has four radial tongues and the sleeve part has a hollow chamber and an opening, which corresponds in its shape to the four radial tongues of the insertion part and which makes possible guiding the tongues of the insertion part into the hollow chamber. By twisting the insertion part relative to the sleeve part in the hollow chamber, the bayonet coupling between the insertion part and the sleeve part is operative. The stability in the coupled state essentially comes from the action of a positive connection between the table top mounting and the leg mounting part. Since guiding the insertion part into the sleeve part must take place smoothly, with this solution only a minimal centering accuracy can be achieved.

[0006] Here, the present invention attempts to achieve an improvement. The goal of the invention is to provide an assembly fitting with a bayonet coupling, which makes possible a precise centering of the two fitting parts to be coupled.

[0007] This object is solved with the features of claim 1.

[0008] With an assembly fitting of this type with an insertion part with a number of radial tongues and a sleeve part with an inner sleeve opening and a number of tongue openings formed thereon corresponding to the number of radial tongues, each radial tongue has at least one lug.

[0009] The outer radial distance of the lug from a center of the sleeve part lies essentially on a circle and the form of the inner sleeve opening corresponds essentially at least in part to this circle. In the coupled state, the lugs rest on the essentially circular form of the inner sleeve opening and center and hold the insertion part.

[0010] The advantages of this arrangement, in particular, are that the centering accuracy is substantially improved. Nevertheless, with this manner of construction, the insertion part can be inserted very easily into the hollow chamber of the sleeve part, because for the tongue openings on the first fitting part, very ample clearance tolerances can be used. By subsequent twisting of the insertion part relative to the sleeve part, the tongues of the insertion part come into engagement with the sleeve part and by this twisting movement, the insertion part also is increasingly centered in the above-described manner.

[0011] Further advantages are that the sleeve part as well as the insertion part can be made generally very flat, as one-piece, and therewith, also cost-effectively.

[0012] By using two lugs per tongue, the stability can be improved further. Likewise, the possibility exists of achieving an increasingly better centering with increased twisting by means of an essentially spiral-shaped curve progression of the form of the inner sleeve opening.

[0013] In addition, the radial tongues can be provided on their outer edges with a radial grooving and the sleeve part, with a resilient locking device. On the sleeve part, a release lever can be mounted with a locking tappet, whereby the locking tappet engages in the coupled position of the assembly fitting into the radial grooving of the tongues and secures against twisting. Thus, in a simple manner, the assembly fitting can be secured against unintended release.

[0014] By means of an essentially triangular shaping of the fitting part with the integrated sleeve part, good assembly possibilities can be achieved with relatively minimal weight. Both fitting parts can be attached by screw connections to the respective components, for example, whereby, in addition and according to need, protection against twisting can be provided still.

[0015] The use of the assembly fitting of the present invention makes possible many versatile use possibilities. Generally, different uses are contemplated, in which components with reference to different momentary needs must be assembled to a correctly and precisely oriented and stabile unit as quickly as possible and possibly without the use of tools. These types of use possibilities include, for example:

[0016] the assembly of exhibition and display constructions;

[0017] shelves;

[0018] mountings for barriers, etc.;

[0019] the attachment of furniture parts;

[0020] the attachment of table legs to table tops;

[0021] camping furniture;

[0022] transportable market stands;

[0023] generally for supports and parts on surface elements, and so on.

[0024] Further uses are possible, if a proportional minimization of all parts is taken into consideration.

[0025] Possibilities of combinations exist in the area of the attachment of furniture parts also, in so far that the assembly fittings of the present invention can be combined with auxiliary parts, with which, for example, table tops can be arranged on one another, such that on the separating point, two or more table tops are supported by a single table leg.

[0026] Next, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings of one example for the use for attachment of table legs to table tops. In the drawings:

[0027]FIG. 1 shows a sleeve part formed in a first fitting part;

[0028]FIG. 2 shows an insertion part formed in a second fitting part.

[0029]FIG. 1 shows a first fitting part 1 with a sleeve part 2 formed thereon. The first fitting part 1 comprises essentially a one-piece, essentially flat and generally triangular base plate 3 in the shown example. The base plate 3 has an essentially circular sleeve opening 4 and three outward, radially formed tongue openings 5. In an area of the base plate 3, which essentially does not correspond to that which is included by the formed tongue openings 5, the base plate 3 is heightened in a bent-out manner, which as a result creates a kind of hollow chamber 6. Under the sleeve part 2 formed from on the first fitting part 1, a region is to be understood, which is formed by the inner sleeve opening 4 of the base plate 3, the tongue openings 5 and the hollow chamber 6 existing in this region by the bending out of the base plate 3. The first fitting part 1 has attachment holes 7 as well as holes 8 for mounting of a locking device (not shown).

[0030]FIG. 2 shows a second fitting part 10 with an insertion part 11 formed thereon. The second fitting part 10 is essentially flat and round and has three radially, outwardly extending tongues 12. The tongue openings 5 of the first fitting part 1 are designed with a large clearance tolerance, such that the second fitting part with the tongues 12 can be inserted very easily into the hollow chamber 6 of the sleeve part 2.

[0031] Each radial tongue 12 has on its top side (that side, which faces away from the sleeve part upon the insertion of the insertion part 11 into the sleeve part 2) two lugs 13, whose outer radial distances from a center 14 of the insertion part essentially lie on a circle. The tongues 12 preferably are provided with radial groovings 15, which are formed for receiving locking cams (not shown) of a preferably resilient locking device (likewise not shown). Locking devices, with which assembly fittings can be secured against unintended release in a simple manner, are known pertinently, and therefore, are not further explained. This also is the case for lever devices, with which these types of locking devices can be released again in a simple manner.

[0032] For connection of the first fitting part 1 with the second fitting part 10 with the bayonet coupling (which is formed by the sleeve part 2 and the insertion part 11), the insertion part 11 of the second fitting part 10 first is inserted into the opening formed by the inner sleeve opening 4 and the tongue openings 5. This is very easy because of the large clearance tolerances of the tongue openings 5. Next, the second fitting part 10 is twisted relative to the first fitting part 1. In this manner, the tongues 12 of the second fitting part 10 are shifted into the hollow chamber 6 of that part of the base plate 3, which lies in the area of the inner sleeve opening 4. At the same time, the outer contact surfaces of the lugs 13 of the second fitting part 10 come into contact with the contact surfaces of the inner sleeve opening 4 of the first fitting part 1. In this manner, an accurate centering of the first fitting part 1 relative to the second fitting part 10 takes place. With a locked bayonet coupling, one obtains an accurately centered and fixed connection, fixed in three axes, between the first fitting part 1 and the second fitting part 10.

[0033] The outer radial distance of the (at least one) lug 13 per tongue 12 from a center of the insertion part 14 lies essentially on a circle and the shaping of the inner sleeve opening 4 corresponds at least in part essentially to this circle. In the coupled state, the lugs 13 rest on the essentially circular shaping of the inner sleeve opening 4 and the lugs thereby center and hold the insertion part 11.

[0034] The shaping of the inner sleeve opening 4 can correspond at least in part essentially also to a generally spiral-shaped or spiral-related curve characteristic, which converges on the circle. In this manner, the transition with the attachment of the insertion part 11 on the sleeve part 2 is further facilitated.

[0035] In conclusion, thanks to the flat structure of the first and second fitting parts 1, 10, a very minimal structural height of the assembly fitting of the present invention is achieved, which with the stacking of components, which are provided with such fitting parts, likewise is advantageous with regard to space requirements. 

1. An assembly fitting, which includes a first fitting part (1), which is provided for attaching to a first component, and a second fitting part (10), which is provided for attachment to a second component, wherein the first fitting part (1) and the second fitting part (10) can be connected to one another by means of a bayonet coupling, whose sleeve part (2) is formed in the first fitting part (1) and whose insertion part (11) is formed in the second fitting part, and wherein the insertion part (11) is provided with a number of radial tongues (12), and the sleeve part (2) is provided with an inner sleeve opening (4) and a number of tongue openings (5) formed thereon corresponding to the number of radial tongues (12), characterized in that each radial tongue (12) has at least one lug (13), whose outer radial distance from a center of the insertion part (14) lies essentially on a circle and the shape of the inner sleeve opening (4) corresponds essentially at least in part to this circle.
 2. The assembly fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that each radial tongue (12) has two lugs (13), whose outer radial distances from the center of the insertion part (14) lie essentially on the circle.
 3. The assembly fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shaping of the inner sleeve opening (4) corresponds at least in part essentially to a generally spiral-shaped or spiral-related curve characteristic, which converges with the circle.
 4. The assembly fitting according to one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the radial tongues (12) each have a radial grooving (15) in their outer edges.
 5. The assembly fitting according to claim 4, characterized in that on the sleeve part (2), a resilient locking device with a release lever and a locking cam is mounted, whereby the locking cam is formed to engage in the radial grooving (15) of the tongues (12).
 6. The assembly fitting according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the sleeve part (2) and the insertion part (11) in a coupled state form a centered and fixed connection in three axes between the first fitting part (1) and the second fitting part (10), or between the first component and the second component.
 7. The assembly fitting according to one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the assembly fitting can be combined with auxiliary or intermediate parts, with which, in addition to the first and second components, adjacent further components can be connected.
 8. A use of the assembly fitting according to one of claims 1 through 7 for attachment of furniture parts.
 9. The use of the assembly fitting according to claim 8 for attachment of table legs to table tops. 